Typewriting machine



Nov. 3, 1942. o. ERBS TYPEWRITING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. '7, 1940 1 lun v l l lll 1 1 r 1 1| I 11 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 7 NOV. 3, 1942. Q ERBSV 2,301,112

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I OR. BY @m (9% P:

I ATTHKNEY Nov. 3, 1942. o. E RBS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7; 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY may @JZ AT TURNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITIN G MACHINE Otto Erbs, Maspeth, N. Y. Application October 7, 1940, Serial No. 360,098

@ I 6 Claims.

. This invention relates to mechanical appliances for the visual reproduction of common alphabetical, numerical and like significant characters upon an appropriate surface, such devices being known as typewriting machines.

Machines for this purpose are commonly composed of many parts arranged in complicated relation, including a key-board, platen, escapement andtype character carrying devices.

To use such machines efficiently the arrangement of the keys on the key-board must be memorized by the operator, else the work produced is slow and replete with errors.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a typewriting machine, composed of few and simple parts, particularly adapted for beginners and students for practice purposes, yet capable of performing all of the commonly required functions serviceably.

, A further feature is in the provision of a typewriting machine, that, because of its novelty, compactness, ease of operation and low cost of construction, is well suited to the requirements of a practice machine, from which an operator may pass successfully to any of the standard commercial machines, the key-boards of which are uniform.

These and other meritorious objects, which will hereafter appear, are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereafter described and shown in the annexed drawings forming part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial top plan, partial sectional view, diagrammatic in character, of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevational, partial sectional view, the section looking on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

,Figure '3 is a partial front elevational, partial sectional view of the machine looking on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view of one of the sid type bars.

' Figure 5 is a side view of the same.

H Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the feed rack and mechanism. "Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates in general an elongated rectangul'ar frame, preferably made of sheet metal in the manner of an open topped box, its floor or bottoml6 resting on feet I! at its four corners.

The rear wall 18 is bent sharply forward at its upper edge to provide a support [9 for a fixed transverse guide 20 having inturned edges to receive-, -a slidable carriage 22, raised at its ends to 5.5

support a cylindrical platen 23 of common type, provided with an extending knob 24 by which the platen may be turned.

At the rear of the bracket is a hinged connection 25 for paper feed rolls 26 carried on a wire rod 21.

The support shelf [9 extends forwardly at its ends to carry posts 28 on which are mounted flanged spools 29 for a ribbon 30; this ribbon passes from one spool to the other, across the machine, and is held in position, relative to the center of the platen, by guides 3l-32 fixed to a support 33, the latter guides 32 being shaped to receive between them the type as advanced towards the platen, causing accurate registration as will further on be described.

At the front of the frame I5 is a wall 34, of lesser height than the rear wall, and resting on it isa top plate 35 extending angularly upward and constituting a key-board provided with ledges 36 and 31; the rear central portion 38 of the plate is sheared and downwardly curved to form a shield 39, while its side portions are extended level over the ribbon spools.

The keys, forty in number are arranged in four transverse rows, in the order of the universal keyboard system. Each key is provided with a pad bearing a designating character and has a square stem movable lengthwise through a correspondingly shaped opening in the key-board 35 and its ledges.

The key pads 40 in the uppermost row have stems 4l, offset forwardly, as at 42, then continued straight, as at 43.

The keys of the next row have pads on straight stems 46, which are free to slide freely through the ledge 31 and couplings 41 in which the stems 43, are also freely slidable. Pins 48, set in the stems 4t, when pushed down, move the couplings, as does also the offset portion 42 of the stems 41, the pads being normally raised by springs 49 surrounding the stems 46, abutting the ridges 37 and pads 45 respectively.

The pads 50 of the next succeeding row are mounted on straight stems 5| and provided with raising springs 52; pins 53, set in the stems, contact couplings 54, engaging the front row of stems 55, having offsets 55, their front vertical portions 51 carrying pads 58, all of which is seen best in Figure 2, in which a pad in the second row is shown in depressed position.

All the several stems are further guided at their lower ends in openings in a transverse bar 59 extending between the machine frame sides.

A space bar 60 has a pair of stems 6|, turned at a right angle rearwardly, as at 62, to actuate the platen and is returned after operation by tension springs 63.

In order to illustrate the operation in Figure 2, the uppermost of the central character pads it! carries the character 7, the next row 45, has the character Y, the following row 50 has the character H, and the front row 58 has the character B.

As shown, the pad 5!] is depressed, causing its stem 5| to make contact at its lower end with a cross bar 65 extending between levers 62, pivoted on a fixed transverse rod 61 alongside longer, rearwardly extending levers 68, also pivoted on the same rod.

Another cross bar 1%], reaches between the levers 62 and is in position to receive the thrust of the key stems 46 when depressed.

A cross bar H extends between the front ends of the longer levers 68 to receive the ends of the front row of stems 55, and further to the rear is another cross bar 52' against which the rearmostkey stems 53" make contact.

Attached to the levers 62' are'flexible connections 75, such as fine'wires, guided over rolls l6 and extending rearwardly to the ribbon and platen feed mechanisms in such manner that upon depressing the keys 45 or 523, the platen is advanced and also the ribbon.

Upon depression of either of the two front rows of keys 5i! or 58 the coupling M is moved downwardly, stressing a flexible wire 80 running over a roll 8! at the front and under another larger roll 82, mounted in brackets 83, near the center of the machine and terminating at a socket 85.

In a similar manner another wire 85 is attached to the coupling 41, and extends over the rolls l8 and B2 to the socket 85.

Upright bars 90 are fixed to extend between the bottom H5 and top [9, near the rear'of the machine, the bars being inclined rearwardly at their upper ends, and at their lower ends receive the slotted extremities of the levers 68 which are twisted at right angles, as at 9!, and are freely movable on the'bars.

These pad like extremities 9| have seated on them the lower end of compression springs 92, encircling the bars and supporting the lowermost of a pair of lugs 93 extending from brackets '94, which are thus slidable on the bars.

These brackets 94 form the base of the brackets 83 and also smaller brackets 95 at the sides of an opening 96. Type carrying bars 98 project through the opening 9'5 and have fixed at their lower ends, the sockets 85.

The bars 98 are limitedly slidable in lugs 99 reaching from plates I00 which are held to the brackets 95 by pivots Iii] in a manner permitting a rocking movement.

Carried by the bars 93 are freely rotatable guide discs I82 adapted to contact the plates I89 thus limiting the oscillating movement of the bars.

At the upper end of the bars 98 are secured heads 1%, carrying two angularly disposed blocks Hit, each block having on its outer face a series of four type characters adapted to be guided by the elements 32 in striking the platen 23 to make an impression on paper held therein by the rolls 26.

The platen feed mechanism, shown in Figure 6, comprises a rack HEI attached to the carriage, and below the teeth of which is a flange [I i l, on the upper edge of a plate H2.

Set in the plate is a stud H3 which is engaged in a slot H4 in a dog H5, moved by a wire connection connected to a pin H6 and having a tooth H! to extend through an opening in the fiange III to engage the teeth of the rack Ill).

The dog is normally held in a disengaged position by a tension spring H8 and brought into operative relation with the rack by the wire 15, trained over a pulley I and connected to the universal cross bars 65 and I0 and also the space bar 66, in such manner that upon depression of any of the keys or space bar, the movement of a single tooth on the rack takes place, the rack being normally held stationary by a spring detent H9 fixed on the flange III.

In Figures 4 and 5 is shown one of the type bars used at the sides of the machine. Each consists of a round bar I journalled and slidable in spaced lugs I26 extending from a yoke plate ['21.

Fixed in the lower end of the bar I25 is a stud i213 on which is mounted a roll I29 adapted to contact the plate 1127 thereby limitingth-eamount of rotation of the bar I25, 2. spring I30 being attached to a lug l3! on the plate 121 to return it to normalpositionafter operation.

At the top of each type barlEfi-are fixed character type blocks eachhaving 'four-faces'on which to set the type, each iace-being-uniformly thick to pass through the space betweenthe guides 32, assuring alignment of the-characters in imprinting a type line.

In operation, the action 'of the 'rnacliine -is as follows:

Upon depression of the key 49 in the highest row, carrying the character '7, thewire86, connectedto the-key by the coupling-41, leads over the rolls l6 and B2 to the-lower'right-side of the type bar socket 85, stressing and turning 'the type bar 'fifigso that thecharacter '7 faces the platen.

Upon further depression of the'key, the type bar 98 slides forward until the disc 102 reaches the pivoted plate IEO, this "movement corresponding to one type space.

Coincidently, the stem 43 presses against-the cross bar 12, connected with the lever '68 and raises the type bar 98 to its highest point, bringing the type character '7 into position to print.

The lever 68 at its front end engages the cross part5 which actuates the platen spacing-mechanism by the wire 15.

By pressing the key M downwardly 'to'theextremity of its movement, the wire 86 turns the pivoted plate 160, swinging thetype on the 'type bar 98 against the platen to-imprint the character 7; thereafter the spring "[30 returns the type bar to its normal position.

Upon depressing the-key'-45, the wire'86,-connected to the key 45 by the coupling llgstresses and turns the type bar 98 so that the type character Y faces the'platen.

Further depression of the key 45 moves'the type bar 98, until the disc I02 contacts the=pivoted plate Hill, one type space, bringing the character Y into position to imprint.

The sidewise, semi-rotary, and sliding action of the bar 98 occurs while the spring I30 restrains the type bar 98 from swinging towards the platen; simultaneously the stem 46 pushes down the crossbar '10, engaged with the lever 62, and actuates the platen spacing mechanism by the wire 15.

'By pressing the .key 45 -fully-down, the wire 86 turns the pivoted plate and swings the type bar 98 towards the platen, whereby the character Y is imprinted; thereafter the spring I30 returns the type bar to normal position.

The key 45 is engaged with the same wire 86, as the key 45, but it is not connected with the lever 68, which shifts the frame 94 and additionally raises the type bar.

Upon depressing the key 50, carrying the character H, the wire 80, connected to the key 50 by the coupling 54 and trained over the roll 8! and under the roll 82 to the upper right side of the type bar socket 85, stresses and turns the type bar 98, so that the character H faces the platen.

The turning or semi-rotational action occurs during the time that the spring I30 restrains the type bar 98 from swinging towards the platen. The stem 5| presses down the crossbar 65, connected on the lever 62 and actuates the platen spacing mechanism by the wire 15.

All these operations are done before the key 50 reaches bottom, then upon pressing the key 50 to its lowest limit, the wire 80 turns the pivoted plate inn and swings the type on the type bar 98 to the platen, whereby the character H is imprinted, and the spring I30 returns the type bar to its normal position.

Upon depressing the key 58, carrying the character B, the wire 80, connected to the key 58 by the coupling 54, stresses and turns the type bar 98 sidewise, so that the character B faces the platen.

The turning action occurs during the time that the spring I30 holds back the type bar 98 from swinging towards the platen. Coincidently, the stem 55 pushes down the crossbar. H, connected with the lever 68, and raises the frame 94, two type spaces, bringing the type character B into position to imprint. The lever 68 is connected with the lever 62 which actuates the platen spacing mechanism by the wire 15.

All these operations are done before the key 58 reaches bottom; then upon pressing the key 58 all the way down, the wire 80 turns the pivoted plate I 00 and swings the type bar 98 against the platen, whereby the type character B is imprinted, then the spring [39 returns the type bar to normal position after each operation.

Although the foregoing is generally descriptive of the best known embodiment of the invention, as denoted in the accompanying claims, it is to be understood that manymodifications and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the scope and meaning of the claims, and which do not call for the exercise of invention.

Having thus described the machine and set forth the manner of its construction and application, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a typewriting machine having a keyboard provided with a plurality of depressible keys and a platen, a series of type bars each having a plurality of unlike character types arranged in two vertical spaced rows, said type bars being slidably and semi-rotatably mounted, flexible Wires connecting more than one key with each type bar, guides for said wires, said wires selectively imparting slidable and semi-rotative movements to said type bars to cause selected type characters to register with the printing point on said platen, and means to return said keys to normal position after actuation.

2. In a typewriting machine having a keyboard provided with a plurality of depressible keys and a platen, a series of type bars each having a plurality of unlike character types arranged in two vertical spaced rows, said type bars being slidably and semi-rotatably mounted, means to raise said type bars to a predetermined height coincidently with the depression of selective keys, said means also causing semi-rotation of the type bars and tilting them forcibly against said platen when raised, and means to restore said type bars and keys after actuation.

3. In a typewriter having a frame, a keyboard, a plurality of keys mounted therein and a platen, a pair of plates pivoted midway between the walls of said frame adjacent the rear thereof, bars each carrying a series of type characters slidable in said plates, means actuated by the depression of certain selected keys for raising 'said plates, independent means for raising said bars a predetermined distance, and means to tilt said bars to forcibly strike said platen when raised.

4. In a typewriter having a frame, a key-board, a plurality of keys mounted therein and a platen, plate brackets pivoted centrally of said frame, type bars each carrying two vertical rows of type characters, said type bars being slidably and oscillatably mounted in said plate brackets, means operative upon the depression of selective keys to raise said brackets and bars, means to further raise said bars individually, said means also rotating said brackets to bring said type characters selectively into striking relation with said platen, and means to oscillate said type bars about a longitudinal axis to bring one or the other of the rows of type characters into effective position.

5. In a typewriter having a frame, a keyboard, a plurality of keys mounted therein and a platen, plate brackets pivoted in the front of the printing point of said platen, type bars slidably and rotatably mounted in said plate brackets and each carrying two vertical rows of type characters, means operative upon the depression of selective keys to limitedly raise said plate brackets and bars, means to further raise said bars individually, said means also rotating said bars to bring said type characters selectively into striking relation with said platen and cause either row of .type characters to impinge on said platen, and means operative upon release of said keys to return said bars to normal position.

6. In a typing machine having a platen and a shiftable frame, a plate bracket pivoted on said frame, a type bar slidably and oscillatably mounted in said bracket, a plurality of type characters carried in vertical .rows by said type bar, means for shifting said frame to raise and lower said bracket, and means for raising said bar independently of said bracket, for oscillating said bar to bring a selected row of type characters opposite the printing point on the platen, and for swinging said bar into striking contact with the platen.

OTTO ERBS. 

